Dinghy lifting device

ABSTRACT

A lifting device for raising a dinghy from the water includes a U-shaped tubular frame having a pair of generally parallel side tubes and a transversely extending end tube which is adapted to be pivotally secured to a cruiser or other mounting member for the dinghy. An outer tube is telescopingly received in each of the side tubes, and the side tubes and outer tubes are adapted to lie athwart the gunwales of the dinghy. Abutment means are mounted on each of the side tubes and each of the outer tubes, and over-center latch means connected to each of the side tubes and outer tubes permit the outer tubes to be telescopingly retracted to clamp the gunwales of the dinghy between the abutment means. A cleat is mounted on the abutment means on each of the side tubes, and a line can be passed around the dinghy and secured to the cleat if desired. The frame can be pivoted upwardly about its pivotal attachment to the cruiser to raise the dinghy from the water, and a latch secured to a cross member extending between the outer ends of the outer tubes can secure the outer tubes to the cruiser.

United States Patent [1 1 Renoui DINGHY LIFTING DEVICE v a [75] Inventor: William Renouf, Kenilworth, Ill.

[73] Assignee: N. S. Stephens Company, Inc.,

Northbrook, Ill.

[22] Filed: May 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 360,626

[52] US. Cl 114/435, 9/39, 214/1 A- [51] Int. Cl B631) 35/72, B63b 23/04 [58] Field of Search 114/435, 230, 235 R,

9/30, 31, 39; 214/1 A, 450; 294/67 BB, 103 CG, 103 R, 34; 74/520 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Sherman D. Basinger Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus 57 r ABSTRACT A lifting device for raising a dinghy from the water includes a U-shaped tubular frame having a pair of generally parallel side tubes and a transversely extending end tube which is adapted to be pivotally secured to a cruiser or other mounting member for the dinghy. An outer tube is telescopingly received in each of the side tubes, and the side tubes and outer tubes are adapted to lie athwart the gunwales of the dinghy. Abutment means are mounted on each of the side tubes and each of the outer tubes, and over-center latch means connected to each of the side tubes and outer tubes permit the outer tubes to be telescopingly retracted to clamp the gunwales of the dinghy between the abutment means. A cleat is mounted on the abutment means on each of the side tubes, and a line can be passed around the dinghy and secured to the cleat if desired. The frame can be pivoted upwardly about its pivotal attachment to the cruiser to raise the dinghy from the water, and a latch secured to a cross member extending between the outer ends of the outer tubes can secure the outer tubes to the cruiser.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUSEPIOIQH aamsaa SHEEK 1 BF 2 PATENTEDSEPIOW 3.834.338

SHEEI 20F 2 FIG 4 DINGHY LIFTING DEVICE BACKGROUND This invention relates to a dinghy lifting device, and, more particularly, to a dinghy lifting device which includes a pair of telescoping frame members to permit the lifting device to securely clamp the gunwales of dinghies of varying widths.

Cabin cruisers and other relatively large boats commonly carry a dinghy or a small boat which can be used to ferry persons between the cruiser and the shore. The dinghies are conventionally mounted at the stern of the cruiser, and various lifting devices are available for raising the dinghy from the water and holding the dinghy in an upright position against the stern.

Dinghy lifting devices commonly engage the gunwales of the dinghy in order to lift the dinghy. However, dinghies are provided in various sizes and widths, and the means which engage the gunwales of the dinghy are desirably adjustable to accommodate dinghies of different sizes. Further, the dinghy must be stowed securely by the lifting device since the cruiser, particularly, seagoing cruisers, may often encounter rough water. Although dinghy lifting devices have included adjustable gunwale-engaging means, merely adjusting these gunwale-engaging means relative to the gunwales does not always provide sufficient securement between the lifting device and the gunwales.

SUMMARY The invention provides a lifting device in which the gunwale-engaging means can be clamped securely to the gunwales of dinghies of various widths. The gunwale-engaging or abutment means are carried by telescoping tubular members, and the abutment means can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the dinghy. Thereafter, over-center latch means telescopingly retract the tubular members so that the abutment means securely clamp the gunwales of the dinghy. Once the dinghy is clamped between the abutment means, the lifting device can be pivoted upwardly to raise thedinghy out of the water, and latch means on the outer end of the lifting device can secure the outer end of the lifting device to the cruiser. Since the dinghy is clamped between the abutment means, the dinghy is safely stowed even in rough water. The dinghy can be released merely by lowering the lifting device and releasing the over-center latch means to unclamp the gunwales of the dinghy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which i FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stern of a cruiser equipped with the inventive lifting device showing the lifting device raising a dinghy from the water;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the lifting device and dinghy in the raised position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lifting device being secured to the dinghy;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the lifting device;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lifting device of FIG. 4 showing the lifting device in a raised position in solid outline and in a lowered position in dotted outline; and

FIG. 6. is an end view of the lifting device as would be seen along the line 66 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a davit or lifting device which is mounted on the stern of a cabin cruiser 11 for raising and lowering a dinghy 12. In the illustration given the lifting device in mounted on'platform 13 which extends aft from the transom 14 of the stern, but the lifting device can be mounted directly on the transom, or it can be supported by some other mounting member, for example, a dock or pier.

'As can be seen best in FIG. 4, the lifting device 10 comprises a tubular frame 16 which includes a U- shaped tube 17 having a pair of side portions 18 and 19 and an end portion 20 extending therebetween. An elongated outer tube 21 is telescopingly received within the side tube 18, and an elongated tube 22 is telescopingly received within the side tube 19. A cross tube or brace 23 extends between the outer tubes 21 and 22 adjacent the outer ends thereof and is secured thereto by cylindrical sleeves 24 and 25.

The outer ends of the outer tubes 21 and 22 are bent downwardly to form abutment or clamping portions 26 and 27, respectively, and each of the clamping portions is provided with a resilient rubber or plastic sleeve 28 similar to the hand grip of bicycle handlebars to prevent damage to the dinghy. Abutment or clamping members 30 and 31 are mounted on the side tubes 18 and 19, respectively. Each of these clamping members comprises a tubular sleeve 32 (FIG. 5) which is slidably mounted on the side tube and a downwardlyextending bar 33. Resilient sleeves 34 similar to the sleeves 28 are inserted over the bars 33, and cleat 35 is secured to the upper portion of each sleeve 32. The clamping bars 26, 27 and 33 extend substantially perpendicularly to the side and outer tubes, but the bars of each associated pair 26-33 and 27-33 converge toward each other.

An over-center latch 38 is pivotally secured to the side tube 19 adjacent the outer end thereof by means of an upwardly extending bracket 39 (FIG. 3) and a pivot pin 40. A link or rod 41 connects the latch 38 to the telescoping outer tube 22. Each end of the link 41 is bent transversely to the remainder of the link, and one end extends through an opening in the latch to pivotally secure the link thereto and the other end extends into one of a series of longitudinally spaced openings 42 in the tube 22 to pivotally secure the link to the tube. When the latch is pivoted to its outermost position, i.e., the position in which it extends toward the end of the outer tube 22, the outer tube 22 is in its most extended position relative to the tube 19. As the latch is pivoted counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5, the link 41 and the tube 22 are drawn toward the inner end of the tube 19, and the tube 22 telescopingly retracts within the tube 19. The tube 22 continues to retract until just before the outer end of the latch engages the tube 19. Because the pivot 40 is spaced from the axis of the tubes 19 and 22, the end of the link 41 attached to the latch will pass over center before the latch engages the tube 19, and the tube 22 will thereafter retract.

An identical latch 38 is similarly pivotally mounted on the tube 18 and connected to the outer tube 21 by a link 41.

The lifting device is pivotally mounted on the platform 13 by av pair of brackets 44, each of which includes a tubular sleeve 45 throughwhich the end tube 20 passes and a flat attaching portion 46 which is bolted to a beam 47 on the platform. The platform is omitted for clarity from FIG. 6. The lifting device can be raised and lowered between substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions by a person on the cruiser by means of. a line 48 which passes around a block 49 attached to the cross brace 23 and another block 50 secured to the transom. A rigid latch bar 51 is pivotally mounted on the cross brace 23 by a sleeve 52, and the other end of the bar 51 carries a latch 53 which can be hooked to an eye ring 54 on the transom to hold the lifting device in the raised position illustrated in FIG. 2.

. Referring to FIG. 3, a dinghy 12 which is to be raised is first brought alongside the stern of the cruiser so that the tubular frame can be lowered athwart the gunwales 56 and 57 of thedinghy. The distance between the clamping members of the frame are adjusted so that the outer clamping members 26 and 27 extend aft of the outboard gunwale 56 and the clamping bars 33 extend forward of the inboard gunwale 57. This adjustment can be made by sliding the sleeves 32 along the side tubes 18 and 19 and by removing the links 41 of the over-center latch means from the openings 42 of the outer tubes to permit the outer tubes to extend or retract. When the clamping members are positioned against the outer sides of the gunwales, each sleeve 32 can be secured by a pin 58 which extends through the sleeve into one of a series of longitudinally spaced openings 59 (FIGS. 3 and 5) in the side tubes 18 and 19, and each link 4l can be inserted into the appropriate opening 42 in the outer tube and when the latch 38 is in its outermost position. Thereafter, each latch 38 is pivoted overcenter into its locking position as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3 to telescope the outer tubes and to clamp the gunwales between the clamping members. The gunwales have some inherent flexibility and are flexed toward each other as each latch is pivoted toward the center position, and the resilience of the gunwales permits the gunwales to relax or return somewhat toward their original positions as the latch passes over center! However, the initial adjustment of the clamping members is such that the gunwales remain securely clamped between the clamping members when each latch is in its locked position.

Movement of the clamping member 28 from the unlocked or extended position to the locked or clamping position is illustrated in FIG. 5. When the latch 38 is pivoted clockwise to its outermost position, the clamping member 28 is in the extended position illustrated in phantom at 28". When the latch is pivoted counterclockwise to its over center position, the clamping member is retracted to the position illustrated in phantom at 28' to clamp the dinghy shown in phantom at 12. i

l have found that theover-center latching means provides sufficient clamping force against the gunwales of the dinghy to securely stow the dinghy in almost any kind of weather that is likely to be encountered. However, if additional security is desired, a line 59 can be passed around the dinghy below each side of the lifting frame and secured to the lifting frame. One end of each line 59 can be secured to an eye hook 60 on the sleeve '25 and the other end of the line can be secured to the cleat 35 to hold the dinghy tightly. against the lifting frame.

When both latches have been moved to their locking positions, the lifting frame can be raised from the stern of the cruiser by means of the line 48 to lift the dinghy from the water. When the lifting frame and the dinghy are raised to the upright position shown in FIG. 2, the latching bar 51 can be pivoted toward the transom so that the latch can be attached to the hook 54. Alternatively, the line 48 can be secured to a cleat on the transom, but [have found that the latching bar 51 relieves the line 48 of tension and provides better securement by providing a rigid link which prevents movement of the lifting frame either toward or away from the tran-' som.

When the dinghy is to be lowered into the water, the latching bar 51 is disengaged from the hook 54, and the line 48 is paid out until the dinghy resets in the water.

Thereafter, the latches 38 can be pivoted to the unlocking positions to disengage the clamping members from the gunwales. If securing lines 59 are used, these are released prior to unlocking the latches. The lifting frame can then be raised by means of the line 48 to free the dinghy. If the cruiser is unattended, the lifting frame can be raised by a person on the platform 13 and secured by the latching bar 51.

Although the tubular members of the lifting frame shown in the specific embodiment illustrated are hollow and cylindrical, the tubular members can have a polygonal cross section and theinner tube of each pair of telescopingly related tubes can be solid.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details hereingiven may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A dinghy lifting device for lifting a dinghy having inboard and outboard gunwales comprising a frame adapted to be pivotally secured to a mounting member for movement between raised and lowered positions, the frame including a pair of elongated telescoping tubular members adapted to extend across the gunwales of the dinghy, each of the tubular members including first and second telescopingly engaged tubes, each of the first tubes adapted to overlie the inboard gunwale of the dinghy when the dinghy is positioned alongside the mounting member and each of the second tubes adapted to overlie the outboard gunwale of the dinghy, abutment means on each of the first tubes for engaging the inboard gunwale of the dinghy, abutment means on each of the second tubes for engaging the outboard gunwale of the dinghy, and locking means for each elongated tubular member for varying the length of the tubular members, the locking means for each tubular member including an over-center latch pivotally secured to one of the tubes of the tubular member and a link extending between the latch and the other tube of the tubular member whereby the gunwales of the dinghy can be clamped between the abutment means on the first and second tubes and the dinghy can be lifte by the frame to the raised position.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the abutment means on each of the first tubes are adjustably secured thereto whereby the position of the abutment means along the length of the first tubes can be varied.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said other tubes is provided with means for permitting the link of the locking means to be secured at selected positions along the length of the other tube.

4. The structure of claim 1 including a cleat mounted on the abutment means on each of the first tubes whereby a line can be passed around the dinghy adjacent each tubular member and secured by the cleat.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which the frame includes brace means extending between the pair of telescoping tubular members adjacent the outer ends thereof and rigid latch means on the brace means for releasably securing the brace means to the mounting member when the frame is in the raised position.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which the latch means includes an elongated rigid latch bar pivotally secured to the brace means.

7. A dinghy lifting device comprising a generally U- shaped tubular member having a pair of elongated generally parallel side tubes and an end tube extending transversely between the side tubes, an outer tube telescopingly connected to each of the side tubes, abutment means on each side tube extending generally perpendicularly from the side tube, each abutment means being adjustably mounted on the associated side tube for longitudinal movement therealong, abutment means on each outer tube adjacent the outer end thereof extending generally perpendicularly to the outer tube, an over-center latch pivotally mounted on each side tube adjacent the outer end thereof, a link pivotally secured to each outer tube and engageable with the over-center latch on the associated side tube, pivotal movement of each latch toward the end tube causing telescoping retraction of the associated outer tube relative to the side tube whereby the distance between the abutment means on the outer tube and the side tube is decreased.

8. The structure of claim 7 including a cleat mounted on the abutment means on each side tube whereby a line can be passed around the dinghy and secured by the cleat.

9. The structure of claim 7 including a brace extending transversely between the outer tubes and rigid latch means secured to the brace for releasably securing the brace to a cruiser.

10. A dinghy lifting device comprising a generally U- shaped tubular member having a pair of elongated generally parallel side tubes and an end tube extending transversely between the side tubes, an outer tube telescopingly connected to each of the side tubes, each of...

tudinally spaced openings, abutment means on each side tube extending generally perpendicularly from the side tube, each abutment means being adjustably mounted on the associated side tube for longitudinal movement therealong, abutment means on each outer tube adjacent the outer end thereof extending generally perpendicularly to the outer tube, an over-center latch pivotally mounted on each side tube adjacent the outer end thereof, a link pivotally secured to each outer tube and engageable with the over-center latch on the associated side tube, the link associated with each outer tube being selectively engageable with each of the openings in the outer tube to vary the length of the outer tube extending from the associated side tube, pivotal movement of each latch toward the end tube causing telescoping retraction of the associated outer tube relative to the side tube whereby the distance between the abutment means on the outer tube and the side tube is decreased.

11. The structure of claim 10 including a brace extending transversely between the outer tubes and rigid latch means secured to the brace for releasably securing the brace to a cruiser. 

1. A dinghy lifting device for lifting a dinghy having inboard and outboard gunwales comprising a frame adapted to be pivotally secured to a mounting member for movement between raised and lowered positions, the frame including a pair of elongated telescoping tubular members adapted to extend across the gunwales of the dinghy, each of the tubular members including first and second telescopingly engaged tubes, each of the first tubes adapted to overlie the inboard gunwale of the dinghy when the dinghy is positioned alongside the mounting member and each of the second tubes adapted to overlie the outboard gunwale of the dinghy, abutment means on each of the first tubes for engaging the inboard gunwale of the dinghy, abutment means on each of the second tubes for engaging the outboard gunwale of the dinghy, and locking means for each elongated tubular member for varying the length of the tubular members, the locking means for each tubular member including an over-center latch pivotally secured to one of the tubes of the tubular member and a link extending between the latch and the other tube of the tubular member whereby the gunwales of the dinghy can be clamped between the abutment means on the first and second tubes and the dinghy can be lifted by the frame to the raised position.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which the abutment means on each of the first tubes are adjustably secured thereto whereby the position of the abutment means along the length of the first tubes can be varied.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said other tubes is provided with means for permitting the link of the locking means to be secured at selected positions along the length of the other tube.
 4. The structure of claim 1 including a cleat mounted on the abutment means on each of the first tubes whereby a line can be passed around the dinghy adjacent each tubular member and secured by the cleat.
 5. The structure of claim 1 in which the frame includes brace means extending between the pair of telescoping tubular members adjacent the outer ends thereof and rigid latch means on the brace means for releasably securing the brace means to the mounting member when the frame is in the raised position.
 6. The structure of claim 5 in which the latch means includes an elongated rigid latch bar pivotally secured to the brace means.
 7. A dinghy lifting device comprising a generally U-shaped tuBular member having a pair of elongated generally parallel side tubes and an end tube extending transversely between the side tubes, an outer tube telescopingly connected to each of the side tubes, abutment means on each side tube extending generally perpendicularly from the side tube, each abutment means being adjustably mounted on the associated side tube for longitudinal movement therealong, abutment means on each outer tube adjacent the outer end thereof extending generally perpendicularly to the outer tube, an over-center latch pivotally mounted on each side tube adjacent the outer end thereof, a link pivotally secured to each outer tube and engageable with the over-center latch on the associated side tube, pivotal movement of each latch toward the end tube causing telescoping retraction of the associated outer tube relative to the side tube whereby the distance between the abutment means on the outer tube and the side tube is decreased.
 8. The structure of claim 7 including a cleat mounted on the abutment means on each side tube whereby a line can be passed around the dinghy and secured by the cleat.
 9. The structure of claim 7 including a brace extending transversely between the outer tubes and rigid latch means secured to the brace for releasably securing the brace to a cruiser.
 10. A dinghy lifting device comprising a generally U-shaped tubular member having a pair of elongated generally parallel side tubes and an end tube extending transversely between the side tubes, an outer tube telescopingly connected to each of the side tubes, each of the outer tubes being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, abutment means on each side tube extending generally perpendicularly from the side tube, each abutment means being adjustably mounted on the associated side tube for longitudinal movement therealong, abutment means on each outer tube adjacent the outer end thereof extending generally perpendicularly to the outer tube, an over-center latch pivotally mounted on each side tube adjacent the outer end thereof, a link pivotally secured to each outer tube and engageable with the over-center latch on the associated side tube, the link associated with each outer tube being selectively engageable with each of the openings in the outer tube to vary the length of the outer tube extending from the associated side tube, pivotal movement of each latch toward the end tube causing telescoping retraction of the associated outer tube relative to the side tube whereby the distance between the abutment means on the outer tube and the side tube is decreased.
 11. The structure of claim 10 including a brace extending transversely between the outer tubes and rigid latch means secured to the brace for releasably securing the brace to a cruiser. 